Forget the simple but effective (and thinly sliced) ham and cheese: Brits’ appetite for sandwiches is only getting bigger.
This week, a sandwich shop dubbed ‘the best in the world’ took the UK by storm after setting up a pop-up store in London – featuring lunchtime delicacies generously stuffed with ingredients such as chopped pistachios, mortadella ham and stracciatella cheese.
All’Antico Vinaio, which first opened in Florence in 1991, saw Londoners queuing down the street upon opening its doors in Soho, with customers seemingly unbothered by the hefty £15 price tag.
The popular eatery reflects an ever-growing food trend that has gripped the nation: Brits want their sandwiches to be luxurious, and thickly stacked with fillings and bread.
The UK sandwich market, reportedly worth a huge £8million, no longer consists of sliced loaf bites with cheese and ham, but is now a towering industry jam-packed with seasonal and organic produce – often charging punters more than £10 a pop.
So popular are the pricey, bready lunches that a sandwich shop in Leeds was recently named the best restaurant in the UK by Uber Eats awards.
Dean Harper, chef and director at Harper Fine Dining told the Daily Mail: ‘The emergence of expensive sandwich shops aligns with younger customers’ greater willingness to explore a diverse range of culinary experiences.’
And Edd Watkinson, who runs the Big Deal’s Bodega in Norwich, told the Guardian last year that the key to the giant sarnie is ‘providing customers with a sandwich that’s so far removed from a sandwich they’d make themself at home.’
A sandwich shop dubbed ‘the best in the world’ has taken the UK by storm after setting up a pop-up store in London much to the delight of sarnie-loving Brits. Pictured: All’Antico Vinaio
Silver’s Deli in Leeds was crowned restaurant of the year at the Uber Eats awards on Tuesday (pictured: one of the eatery’s sandwiches)
Silver’s Deli, Leeds
Silver’s Deli from Leeds was crowned the winner at the restaurant awards on Tuesday, bringing home the trophy for its lengthy menu of fresh sandwiches, including classic combinations and other exciting inventions.
One of its popular breaded inventions, called O’Hagen, features a hand’s width of punchy flavours, including garlic and herb chicken, crispy prosciutto, rocket, vinnie, tomato, crumb, pepperonata spread.
A hot vegetarian alternative, the Caponata, boasts a dusty sub spilling out with tasty morsels, such as Aubergine caponata, mozzarella, marinara, and giardiniera.
Covering all bases, the venue also offers classic favourites including a whopping tuna baguette, chicken Caesar sandwich and typical Italian Caprese option.
More than 200 miles away from the capital, where food prices soar, the Headingley deli still has prices that would leave most meal-deal munchers quaking, with even the cheaper menu items coming in at £9.50.
Some of the more elaborate options reach £12 for just one sandwich.
Winning the awards earlier this week, Silver’s scooped £100,000 in prize money to ‘help accelerate its in-store and delivery growth, while maximising the diner experience’.
Fat Pat’s, Manchester
It’s menu is brimming with decadent ingredients that would blow the head off most supermarket offerings. Pictured, one of the venues subs
Also tantalising taste buds north of London is the social-media loved deli, Fat Pat’s in Manchester. Offering juicy 12-inch sub sandwiches, it has become known nationwide, drawing in fans from all over the country.
Its menu is brimming with decadent ingredients that would blow the head off most supermarket offerings.
Earlier this year, it was even named the Best takeaway at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards.
Its menu consists of four staple sarnies, including a hot honey sub with crispy fried chicken Nashville sauce, honey, kebab pickles, white sauce, and crisp salad items.
Additionally, its Shrimp Po’Boy offering, featuring Panko-battered shrimp, garlic butter, bloody Mary sauce, alongside with lashing of mayonnaise and crunchy lettuce.
The sandwich makers have also earned ‘iconic’ online status for their Philly cheesesteak-stuffed option and a vegetarian option with dried aubergine, sundried tomatoes, house cheeses and generous spoonfuls of tasty pesto.
Again, though, while the subs do not fall flat on flavour, nor do they scrimp on cost, with the meat-free Eggplant Muffuletta carrying the lowest price tag of £11, while the chicken and steak offerings reach £15, nearly as much as a main meal in a restaurant.
Sandwich Sandwich, Bristol, London
Another to recently brave the scene is Sandwich Sandwich, a family run business originally founded in Bristol. Pictured, a Sandwich Sandwich menu item
It recently made its London debut, opening a new shop on Tottenham Court Road earlier this summer – topping up its London roster, which includes locations in Tower Hilly and Gresham Street, much to the delight of local foodies. Pictured, fish and chip sandwich
High streets in trendy boroughs across London have also become hotspots for entrepreneurial food makers.
One of those to recently brave the scene is Sandwich Sandwich, a family-run business originally founded in Bristol.
It recently made its London debut, opening a new shop on Tottenham Court Road earlier this summer – topping up its London roster, which includes locations in Tower Hill and Gresham Street, much to the delight of local foodies.
The sandwich makers, who first flung doors open 14 years ago in Cotham, is famed for making jaw-stretching buns, even impressing Premier League footballers and TV chef, Jamie Oliver.
In 2023, it beat 12,000 nominated restaurants across the UK and Ireland to win the title of Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year.
It offers both breakfast and lunch sandwiches, using no-frills white or granary bread to blanket its range of delicious and uniquely blended ingredients.
Some of those include simple favourites such as egg mayonnaise, tuna crunch and tandoori chicken.
The multivenue producers also make hot sandwiches, including a hot crispy chicken burger, posh fish and chip butter and BBQ beef stack, as well as offering a ‘build your own’ breakfast option for morning cravings.
Things in Bread, Leeds
Things in Bread is another northern sarnie maker to have taken the UK by storm, whipping up a selection of carbohydrate-laden delights to satisfy the gluttonous cravings of its customers. Pictured, a TIB menu item
Giving a nod to its northern roots, the bakery also a chips and curry sauce sandwich, which is formed of two white slices of buttered bread, chips, salt and pepper seasoning, chilli, spring onion, and a large pot of our chip shop curry sauce. Pictured
Things in Bread is another northern sarnie maker to have taken the UK by storm, whipping up a selection of carbohydrate-laden delights to satisfy the gluttonous cravings of its customers.
Born out of doh’hut, a bakers pinned in a similar area, the eatery claims to have spent its two years curating and perfecting bread and filling recipes to ensure each bite was as delicious as it could possibly be.
According to their own origin story, the menu was inspired by ‘the humble meal deal sandwich’, and hence includes several beloved classics such as egg and cress, BLT, and roast chicken salad.
The venue also makes slap-up favourites like ham and cheese and Ploughman’s, but is anything but limited when it comes to testing out new combinations.
It promises to use local ingredients at every available chance, and offers a range of vegetarian options, as well as catering to other dietary requirements on request.
The Instagram page packs a mouth-watering punch with scenes of decadent, jam-packed sarnies, including one recent addition that contained teak, chimichurri, crispy potatoes and rocket.
Giving a nod to its northern roots, the bakery also offers a chip and curry sauce sandwich, which is formed of two white slices of buttered bread, chips, salt and pepper seasoning, chilli, spring onion, and a large pot of our chip shop curry sauce.
Prices aren’t are competitive at TIB, with most menu options comfortably below £10, most amounting to between £6-£7, as well as breakfast options costing around £6 – almost the same as a McDonald’s meal.
Big Deal’s Bodega, Norwich
Run by Edd Watkinso, the Big Deal’s Bodega in Norwich is another on list of sizeable sandwiches, selling eye-popping delights that fuse undreamed combinations into desirable dinners. Pictured, menu item
sandwich that’s so far removed from a sandwich they’d make themself at home.’ The bodega has been captivating foodie’s imaginations since it was first founded in 2022, regularly adding new creations to its vast menu. Pictured, menu item
Marvellous menu creations aren’t just limited to meat either. It has previously made vegetarian versions of some of it’s best loved classics, including a Parmageddon featuring a aubergine schnitzel instead of chicken
Run by Edd Watkinson, the Big Deal’s Bodega in Norwich is another on the list of sizeable sandwiches, selling eye-popping delights that fuse undreamed combinations into desirable dinners.
His New York-style menu is as dynamic as the flavours that inhabit the soft sub buns, with sarnies inspired by flavours from all over the globe.
A recent invention, shared on the venue’s social media page, catalogued countless delectable components, including cod fish fingers, citrus and mint salad, Thai red curry mayonnaise and nut-free satay sauce.
Another unique menu offering included A slice of Americana, which featured fried chicken, peanut butter, sriracha cherry pie jelly, cheddar, crispy bacon and lettuce.
Marvellous menu creations aren’t just limited to meat, either. It has previously made vegetarian versions of some of its best-loved classics, including a Parmageddon featuring an aubergine schnitzel instead of chicken.
He told the Guardian the secret to his success was ‘providing customers with a sandwich that’s so far removed from a sandwich they’d make themself at home.’
The bodega has been captivating foodie’s imaginations since it was first founded in 2022, regularly adding new creations to its vast menu.
Mootz General Store, Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s Mootz General Store offers a selection of American, Italian and British fusion sandwich flavours made with the freshest ingredients – most of which are made in-house
Mootz General Store was quickly met with rave reviews after it opened just last year, thanks to its gourmet selection of fresh fusion sandwiches.
Owners Andy Mitchell and Chris Thompson prioritise freshness and flavour, and their carefully curated menu is inspired by their travels to New York and Italy with the British palate in mind.
One reviewer gave the Stockbridge shop a glowing five-star review, claiming the popular Mootz sandwich with mortadella, stracciatella, pistachio pesto, and crushed pistachios was the best they have ever had in their 61 years of life.
Sandwiches are priced between £11.50 and £13.50 for a full-sized sized, but customers can grab a half if they’re not feeling as hungry from £9.
Michaell and Thompson configured Mootz to give customers a ‘show’ while they wait for their sandwich, allowing people to see their orders being made.
Speaking on the Eating and Waiting to Eat podcast, Mitchell said: ‘That was really important for us. We’ve been in this industry long enough to know that it’s not just the food, it’s the experience, it’s the anticipation of going there.’
‘It’s everything. It’s really important that you have the right combination.’
Freshness was another major priority. Meats are sourced from the finest butchers in Scotland, cheese is imported from Italy, and everything else is made in store every day – including the famous schiacciata bread.
‘We think if you go and have a sandwich at a shop anywhere, you can tell really quickly what’s just jar bought and what’s fresh and hopefully people come in and get sandwiches from us because they can taste that freshness,’ Mitchell said.
Margo’s The Sandwich Shop, Plymouth
The cafe is nestled in an assuming white building along a cobblestone street and has cabinets of cakes and quiches, but is best known for its breakfast, toasted, and special sandwiches
Margo’s The Sandwich Shop’s flavours have been inspired by cuisines all over the globe, with Mexican, Japanese, Indian, American and Italian-style sandwiches to choose from
The cafe is nestled in an assuming white building along a cobblestone street and has cabinets of cakes and quiches, but is best known for its breakfast, toasted, and special sandwiches.
Margo’s The Sandwich Shop’s flavours have been inspired by cuisines all over the globe, with Mexican, Japanese, Indian, American and Italian-style sandwiches to choose from.
Fresh focaccia bread envelopes a pulled pork, ham, pork scratchings, egg, lettuce, tomato, mustard, and cream cheese filling in the ‘Foccacia is not a swear word’ sandwich.
The selection of warming toasties is oozing with cheese and decadent fillings, like the Top of the Pops featuring onion bhaji, minted hummus, spiced halloumi, poppadom, onion and herb mix.
Prices range from £8.50 all the way up to £18.50 for the crab carnival bagel with marinated cucumber, pea shots and herb mayonnaise.
One customer said the huge portion sizes are well worth the prices and will have you leaving feeling full and satisfied.
Margo’s is a family-run business named after the husband-and-wife duo’s mothers, who were both called Margaret.
Anderson & Hill, Birmingham
It’s not a rare sight to see customers queuing out the door of Anderson and Hill to try what many have described as Birmingham’s best sandwich
Hidden down a historical shopping arcade in the city centre is a gourmet deli serving what many customers have described as Birmingham’s best sandwich.
Starting out as a charcuterie, fromagerie and epicerie, Anderson and Hill expanded its offerings to use its cheeses, cured meats and marinated vegetables to create a colourful menu of ready-made sandwiches.
It’s not a rare sight to see customers queuing out the door during lunchtime rush hour to satisfy their hunger with the tasty sandwiches, most of which cost less than a fiver and contain two or three fillings.
The Bavarian with German salami, smoked cheese, gherkins, and mayo is a popular choice, along with the New Yorker with pastrami, Napoli salami, and pickles all in two slices of ciabatta bread.
Anderson & Hill frequenters also love the Iberian with Serrano ham, Manchego cheese, and roasted peppers, and vegetarians don’t need to feel left out thanks to the vegan Veggie sandwich featuring artichokes, peppers, sunblush tomatoes, and olives.
What’s best is that the prices are the cheapest on this list, with sandwiches starting at just £3.25 for a half, £3.95 for a full Englishman, and the dearest on the takeaway menu being only £5.30.
The Roman is the most costly option, filled with Napoli and Milano salami, taleggio, and tomatoes, while the Parisian has a decadent combination of garlic sausage and Camembert.
The quaint eatery has been heaving since it was taken over by chef Will Johns, who worked tirelessly to perfect his menu and supply his quality ingredients to some of Birmingham’s finest restaurants.
Rouge Sarnies, London
London’s Rogue Sarnies has fans coming back time and time again to try the rotating menu of incredible wood-fired sandwiches
Rogue Sarnies started as a pop-up venture in December 2019 and was going strong until it was struck down by the pandemic three months later and had to shut shop.
The following few years were a series of reopenings and closings until co-founders Zac Whittle and Freddie Sheen were finally able to establish a brick-and-mortar wood fire sandwich shop in Hackney.
Despite the turbulent times, fans stayed loyal, going back time and time again for Rogue’s sandwiches made fresh by chefs from the adjoining restaurant.
The popular eatery offers a rotating menu of choices, with regular customers working their way through the list to try each offering.
Bread is baked fresh in-house every day in the wood-fired oven, giving each sandwich a smoky hint, and the flavour combinations are not restricted to a specific cuisine.
Selections depend on what the chefs pick up during their weekly shop at the New Covent Garden Market.
One week, you might find The Lord Nelson packed with beef shin, sticky onions, Monterey Jack cheese and horseradish cream all drenched in gravy.
The next week, you could be chowing down on a pizza sarnie like the Sloppy Guiseppe with slow-cooked beef ragu, mozzarella, jalapeno and burnt lemon aioli.
